Percina copelandi (Jordan, 1877)
Channel darter
Percina copelandi
photo by N. Burkhead & R. Jenkins, courtesy of VDGIF

Family:  Percidae (Perches), subfamily: Etheostomatinae
Max. size:  7.2 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: wide-ranging but highly localized in St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from southern Quebec in Canada and from Vermont south to northern Louisiana in the USA; and in Mobile Bay, Pascagoula and Pearl River drainages in the USA.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Inhabit pools and margins of riffles of small to medium rivers over sand or gravel bottoms, and also shores of lakes (Ref. 5723, 10294). Adults feed on midge larvae, with mayfly and young of caddisfly (Ref. 10294). Eggs are found buried in the substrate (Ref. 7043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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